Springless self-equalizing thrust bearing



Aug. 21, 1951 R. A. BAUDRY SPRINGLESS SELF-EQUALIZING THRUST-BEARING Filed April 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR Ren A. Baudry. BY

-W-ITN ESS ES:

ATTORN EY Wm Fig.2. im

Aug 21, 1951 R. A. BAUDRY 2,565,116

RINGLESS SELF-EQUALIZING THRUST-BEARING Filed April l5, 1950 3 SheecS-Sheel 2 v y ///////fl5 Fig. 4 23 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR www Ren A. Baudry.

ATTORNEY Aug- 21, 1951 R. A. BAUDRY 2,565,116

sPRrNGLEss sELF-EQUALIZING THRusT-BEARING Filed April 15,` 195o s sheets-sheet s wlTNEssEs: lNvENToR E; ,l t R 'A.B d mne n ou ry m., @M mw ATTORNEY 3 pads 8 which are arranged in a plurality of concentric rings or circular rows having radii R1, R2, R3 and R4, as shown in Fig. 1. Each pressurepad 8 is centrally supported on a downwardly projecting pin 9 (Fig. 3), which bears on the front or top surface I of a central depression II in one of a plurality of front or top equalizerdiscs I2. These top equalizer-discs I2 have peripheral downwardly presented contact-circles or raised rims I3, which are preferably on the same horizontal level as the central depressed surface I0, for a reason which will be subsequently the top equalizer-discs I2, of each circle, are f shoe-supporting discs, which support the pressure-pads 8. The pressure-pads 8, in turn, distribute the thrust-loads of the respective shoes 5, which are carried on rings of annular ridges or raised rims 8' which are provided, one on top of each of the respective pads 8. the radial spaces between the leading edge of one shoe 5 and the trailing edge of the next adjacent trailing shoe 5, are intermediate or betweenshoe top equalizer-discs I2', one for each of the circles R1, R2, R3 and R4, and these intermediate top discs I2' are held down by downwardly projecting pins 8 which are carried by a fixed front or upper plate I4 which is held in fixed spaced relation to the base-plate I5, by suitable means such as spacers I6, shown in Fig. 5. The upper plate I4 is provided with suitable holes I I for the accommodation of the various shoe-supporting pads 8.

The downwardly facing outer rims I 3 of the front or upper equalizer-discs I2 and I2 rest on the up-turned rims of a plurality of circular rows or rings of back or lower equalizer-discs 2l, which are similar to the upper discs I2, but reversed or turned upside down. The upwardly projecting central depressions 22 of the lower equalizer-discs 2I rest on forwardly projecting or upstanding pins 23 which are carried by the lower support-plate or base-plate I5.

By means of the construction thus far described, the thrust-loads of each circular series of thrust-pads 8 are equalized in circumferential lines or circles, from one pad to the next, by

means of the upperand lower` equalizer-discs I2 and 2I. The thrust-.loads from one bearing-shoe 5 to the next bearing-shoe 5 are also equalized, by means of the intermediate equalizer-discs I2.

In accordance with my invention, I also equalize the thrust-loads in radial lines, between the outer circle of discs, having the radius R1, and the next circle of discs, having the radius R2, and so on from the second circle to the third, and from the third circle to the fourth, etc. This radial thrust-equalization is accomplished by three radial equalizer-levers 3l, 32 and 33, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The first one of these radial equalizer-levers 3I, is shown in transverse section, in Fig. 4, and in longitudinal section in Fig. 5. At the places where these three radial equalizer-levers are located, the intermediate upper equalizer discs I2 are not supported by the upper fixed plate I4, as shown in Fig. 3, but they are supported from depending pins 9" which are carried by the ends of the respective radial equalizer-levers, such as 3I, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

As shown in Fig. 5, each radial equalizer-lever,

Centered in such as 3l, is provided with a deep central depression 34, having a top surface 35 which is in line with the contact-surfaces I8, I3 and 20 of the respective equalizer-discs. The upward thrusts of the central depressed surfaces 35 of the radial equalizer-levers, such as 3|, are taken by depending pins 9"' which are carried by stationary brackets 36 which are bolted to the upper plates I4, as shown at 3l in Fig. 5. rI'he upper plates I4 are provided with suitable openings 38 for accommodating the respective radial equalizer-levers, such as 3i, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

As a result of the provision of the radial equalizer-levess 3|, 32 and 33, it will be seen that the upward thrusts which are exerted by the central depressions I0 of the associated intermediate equalizer-discs I2 are transmitted or equalized between one ring of discs and the next inner ring of discs, so that the thrust-loads are equalized in all directions.

As a result of my equalizer-construction, the thrust-bearing shoes 5 are automatically selfequalizing in all directions, so that it is impossible for any thrust-transmitting pad 8 to have any more thrust than any other thrust-carrying pad 8, because there is no way for these thrusts to be carried except by balancing one thrust against another and against another, in an endless chain. It will be noted that I use thrusttransmitting pads 8 which are provided, in their upper surfaces, with annular peripheral thrustcarrying surfaces or projections 8', which distribute the thrust of each pad in a circle or annulus, bearing upon the under surface of the shoe5, so that the entire downward thrust of each of the shoes 5 is carried by a plurality of pad-circles 8', as indicated in Fig. l. These thrust-pad circles 8 should be distributed so that each pad has, assigned to it, the same proportionate part of the total surface-area of the associated shoe, but this condition needs to be only very approximately satisfied, because the thrusts are carried by circles 8', so that the distribution of the thrust around the respective circles automatically takes care of any reasonable amount of off-centering of any thrust-pad 8 with respect to the portion of the bearingshoe surface which is assignable to that pad.

In like manner, the upper and lower circular rows or rings of equalizer-discs I2 and 2| are automatically self-leveling, making contacts with each other at four points as shown in Fig. 6 at Pi, P2, P3 and P4. Here again, the equalizerdiscs cannot tilt sideways, because of these multiple contacts which keep the discs all substantially horizontal.

The provision of an equalizer-disc construction having peripheral circular rims of contactpoints I3 and 20 is also an advantage, in making the discs automatically adaptable to different lengths of separating-distances between successive circle-centers, such as C1 and C2 in Fig. 6. Whatever the separation between disc-centers may be, within a wide range of limits, the same size of equalizer-discs may be used, thus making it possible to use a single standard size of disc for all of the discs of my apparatus, notwithstanding the fact that the center-to-center spacings of the discs in the different circles R1, R2, Rs and R4 are slightly different from each other. In each of these circles of discs, the center-spacings are alike, for that circle. As the diameters of the circles R1, R2, R3 and R4 become progressively smaller, from the outer circle to the inner circle, it is necessary for the inneraccenni 'most circles tov usea-smaller number of circumferentially spaced discs in those circles, for two reasons, both to-maintain an approximately uniform spacing between the centers of the discs in the respective circles of discs, and also so that. the thrust-transmitting pads 8 of the innermost circles wouldjhave approximately the same proportionate part of the total area-shoe assigned to them, as in the case of the outermost ringsV ofpads.Y

rlI-he design of equalizer-discs with the centrali depress-ions is also advantageous, in my bearing, because the whole purpose ofthe equalizer-discsV isso-that the discs-can tilt through minute arcs ordistances, and if the pivot-points, or contacts: betweenthe pins 9' and the depression-surfaces l', are in the same` planes` as the contact-rims- I31 and 2.0 of the discs, then a-fractional mil, or a few mils, of tilting of the disc, out ofi its nor-y mal'f horizontal position, will not produce any perceptible rubbing at the respective contactpoints which are indicated at P1, P2, P3 and P4, in` Fig. 6, and at P1 and P4 in Fig, 3. In like manner, the radial equalizer-levers 3l, 32 and 33 are so constructed that the depressed central surface 35 and the ends ofthe depending pin 9 of each` radial equalizer-lever are in approximately;y the4 same plane.

In carrying out my invention, it is both necessary and desirable, not only to have comparable, or approximately equal, circumferential spacings between successive equalizer-discs in all four of the circles R1, R2, R3 and R4, but it is also necessary and desirable to have somewhat comparable, or approximately equal, radial spacings between the intermediate discs I2 of successive circles, so that there will be adequate radial room for the central depressions 34 of the radial equalizerlevers, such as 3l in Fig. 5, the same as there is adequate circumferential room for the central depressions il of the circumferentially displaced equalizer-discs, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. From the standpoint of having each thrust-transmitting lpad I4 correspond to approximately the same proportionate part of the total shoe-surface, it is also desirable for these pads to be spaced about the same amounts radially and circumferentially, although, as I have said, this condition is not extremely critical, because of the circular thrust-transmitting rims I4 of the pads 8, which properly distribute the pad-thrusts.

While there are advantages in making all of the equalizer-discs the same size, this is not necessary. Thus, if it were desirable to have a somewhat larger or smaller intermediate disc l2', as indicated at 42 in Fig. 6, it could be made to maintain the same lever-arm h for the small disc with which it contacts, while having its own different leVer-arm It', as shown in Fig. 6.

My invention is of particular advantage during the diflicult starting-periods, when the machine is just beginning to turn, after a standstill period. Under these conditions, there is no adequate film on the bearing-surfaces of the shoes and runner, so that it is extremely important that the bearing-load be superbly and meticulously equalized, as is done by my system of equalizerdiscs and radial equalizers. After the rotor gets going, an oil-nlm will be dragged in between the upper shoe-surfaces and the under runner-surface, and this lm will pile up in the familiar Wedge-shape, being a few mils thicker at the leading edges of the shoes than at their trailing edges. This small tilting motion of the shoes is also permitted by my equalizer-discs, which will automatically tiltwhateversmall amount'may be necessary, to provide for th-is` shoe-tilting, while at the-same time performing their normal' functions of equalizin'g all of the vertical thrusts.

While I have described my invention in connection with a single preferred. form of embodithere is a considerable thrust-load,4 of a self-v equal-iz'ingv thrust-bearing comprising a plurality of oil-immersednon-rotating segmental thrustbearingYshoes-bearing against the thrust-bearing. surface of said rotating runner, a plurali-ty of. rela-tively small pressure-distributing pads'- Afor supporting each shoe, each padhaving a peripheral raised rim which bears on-theback of its shoe,- thepadsofthe bearing being arranged i-n a pluralityf ofconcentric` circular rows; a` like number ofcircular rows of front equalizer-members; each having a forwardly. presented central thrustcarrying point, and backwardly presented peripheralpoints, each padV having a backwardly extending-central pin bearing on theA central thrustcarrying point of one of said front equalizermembers, some of said front equalizer-members being intermediate members disposed in the radial spaces between the leading edge of one shoe and the trailing edge of the next adjacent trailing shoe, said bearing having a fixed base-plate and a fixed spaced front plate held in xed spaced relation to the base-plate, said front plate having backwardly extending pins which bear on the central thrust-carrying points of certain of said intermediate equalizer-members, and a plurality of circular rows of back equalizer-members which are similar, in description, to the front equalizermembers except that they are reversed, the front and back equalizer-members engaging each other at their peripheral points, the xed base-plate having forwardly projecting pins which bear on the central thrust-carrying points of the respective back equalizer members.

2. The invention as defined in claim l, characterized by said equalizer-members being discs, each having a central depression for its thrustcarrying point, and each having a raised contact-rim for providing the peripheral point of the equalizer-disc, the central thrust-carrying point and the contact-rim of each disc being in approximately the same plane.

3. The combination with a machine having a rotor-member having a rotating runner on which there is a considerable thrust-load, of a selfequalizing thrust-bearing comprising a plurality of oil-immersed non-rotating segmental thrust-bearing shoes bearing against the thrustbearing surface of said rotating runner, a plurality of krelatively small pressure-distributing pads for supporting each shoe, each pad having a peripheral raised rim which bears on the back of its shoe, the pads of the bearing being arranged in a plurality of concentric circular rows, a like number of circular rows of front equalizer-members, each having a forwardly presented central thrust-carrying point, and backwardly presented peripheral points, each pad having a backwardly extending central pin bearing on the central thrust-carrying point of one of said front equalizer-members, some of said front equalizer-members being intermediate members disposed in the radial spaces between the leading edge of one shoe and the trailing edge of the next adjacent trailing shoe, said bearing having a fixed base-plate and a xed spaced front plate held in xed spaced relation to the base-plate, said front plate having backwardly extending pins which bear on the central thrust-carrying points of certain of said intermediate equalizer-members, a plurality of circular rows of back equalizer members which are similar, in description, to the front equalizer-members except that they are reversed, the front and backv equalizer-members engaging each other at their peripheral points, the xed base-plate having forwardly projecting pins which bear on the central thrust-carrying points of the respective back equalizer-members, and radial equalizing means, comprising: a plurality of radial equalizer-levers, each extending from one circular row of front equalizer-members to the next inner circular row, each radial equalizer-lever having, at its respective ends, backwardly extending pins which engage the central thrust-carrying points of intermediate equalizer-members of two adjacent circular rows, each radial equalizer-lever having a central forwardly facing thrust-carrying point, and

8 l a plurality of stationary brackets xedly carried by the front plate, each of said stationary brackets having a backwardly extending pin engaging the central thrust-carrying point of one of said radial equalizer-levers.

4. The invention as dened in claim 3, characterized by said equalizer-members being discs, each having a central depression for its thrustcarrying point, and each having a raised contact rim for providing the peripheral point of the equalizer-disc, the central thrust-carrying point and the contact-rim of each disc being in approximately the same plane, and further characterized by each radial equalizer-lever having a deep central depression for its thrustcarrying point, said thrust-carrying point and the ends of the backwardly extending pins of each radial equalizer-lever being in approximately the same plane.

REN A. BAUDRY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kingsbury Mar. 8, 1938 Number 

